AIR World Service English

Amid the nationwide lockdown and low economic activity the Covid-19 pandemic has wrought, there is a salutary feature in the macro-economy with record foodgrains stocks in the national granary. This has raised hopes that the marginalized and people without means can breathe easy. The government is determined to make adequate use of this cornucopia. Foodgrains stocks in the central pool stood at a whopping 73.85 million tonnes (mt) as on the start of the current fiscal year, April 1, 2020. This is by far the highest ever and is also three-and-a-half times the minimum operational-cum-strategic reserve requirement of 21.04 mt. Ever since his periodic parleys with the State Chief Ministers in the ongoing lockdown phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his fourth digital confabulation, highlighted the urgent need to usher in reforms that touch the lives of the common people across the country. This reassuring remark from the Prime Minister has not come a day too soon even as there is ...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki Baat programme broadcast over All India Radio network on Sunday 26th April 2020; thanked the people of India for their collective fight against the coronavirus. Mr. Modi said that the people-driven and people-centric measures adopted during the nationwide lockdown has become the talking point of global policy makers. Prime Minister urged the Indian youth to come forward and showcase India's rich medical tradition of Ayurveda. The ancient Indian science of healing has many solutions to vexed problems afflicting the people. Mr. Modi also called upon the youth to innovate during this crucial time. Innovation holds the key to a safer and prosperous future. The Indian Prime Minister during his radio address said, a new face of the Indian police has emerged. He said that moving beyond the call of duty to maintain law and order; police personnel all over the country today are in the forefront of providing food, relief and also help to the ordin...

My dear countrymen, Namaskar. All of you are tuned into this episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat ‘during the lockdown. The number of suggestions and phone calls for this episode is many times the usual. Matters close to your heart; your own Mann Ki Baat, comprising a number of issues has reached out to me. I’ve tried to the best possible extent to read them, listen to them. One has come to know of certain aspects which do not get noticed during the course of this flurry of exigencies. I wish to touch upon and share a few of those aspects with our countrymen in this ‘Mann ki Baat’, taking place amidst a battle. Friends, India’s fight against Corona is people-driven, in the truest sense of the term. In India it is the people who are fighting the Corona; it is you who are putting up a fight …..along with the people, the government and the administration are fighting as well. A vast country such as India, with its proactive endeavor on the path of development is fighting a decisive battle again...

Pakistan’s fight against COVID-19 has been marred with controversies since the time the first few cases were reported towards the end of February. It was attributed to the return of Shia pilgrims from Iran via the Taftan border. So far about 10,000 positive cases have been reported with more than 200 deaths; but Pakistan has been reportedly under-reporting the number of cases each passing day. This underlines that the pandemic might be spreading very fast in the country. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s half baked attitude on fully implementing ‘lockdown’ and yet opening up businesses and the decision to open Mosques for prayers during the holy month of Ramzan; and on top of it, Islamabad's desperate attempts to continue politicking on the Kashmir issue, accelerating the cross border terror has cast serious doubts over the Khan government’s policy and its seriousness to contain the pandemic. Also, the trust deficit between the Federal and the Provisional governments in framing...

India is battling the covid19 pandemic in a steadfast and resolute manner. New Delhi's mature handling of the crisis has been appreciated by the international community. Since the first case of coronavirus emerged in India, from a student returning from Wuhan, China; India put together protocols for managing the pandemic.  India started thermal screening of air and sea passengers arriving into the country from all over the world. India stopped entry of foreigners except diplomats from March 15. It also halted International air services from the same date. To have a common strategy for fighting the covid19, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference with leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). India announced a fund of US$ 10 million for SAARC and also allowed the use of her medical portals for the members of the grouping.  Since the countrywide lockdown on 25th March, Prime Minister Modi has been consistently re...

Advancing India’s ‘Act East’ outreach amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed public heath governance and economic challenges with key strategic partners including Vietnam, Japan and Republic of Korea. After demonstrating decisive leadership in bolstering South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in combating COVID-19; the Indian Prime Minister joined forces with key anchors of India’s Act East policy to explore new vistas of cooperation. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Modi engaged in a telephonic conversation with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc with the objective of enhancing bilateral collaboration including facilitating supplies of necessary medical equipment to battle COVID-19. As India looks to import Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, suppliers based in South Korea having tie-ups with production companies in Vietnam has been identified. Vietnam has so far showcased resilience in its fight against...

The global financial markets are struggling to battle the effects of Coronavirus or COVID-19. The energy sector is maintaining a close watch on its developments. Oil and gas producers through various industry bodies and associations have earnestly requested the Government to cut and defer taxes on output and end all price controls on domestic natural gas to help companies deal with the twin shock of a global supply glut and fall in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the global crisis unfolds, India’s oil demand as a consumer has collapsed by as much as 70% as India endures its largest national lockdown. The estimate for the current demand loss is a stark reminder of the challenge facing oil producers as they haggle over a deal to cut supply and prop up the global energy industry. The energy companies are left with no other option but to seek refuge under provisions of their respective contracts in the aftermath of this crisis; thereby leading to a nation-wide chain reaction ...

My Dear Fellow Citizens, India’s fight against the Corona global pandemic is moving ahead with great strength and steadfastness. It is only because of your restraint, penance and sacrifice that, India has so far been able to avert theharm caused by corona to a large extent. You have endured immense suffering to save your country, save your India.  I am well aware of the problems you have faced -some for food, some for movement from place to place, and othersfor staying away from homes and families. However, for the sake of your country, you are fulfilling your duties like a disciplined soldier. This is the power of ‘We, the People of India’ that our constitution talks about. This display of our collective strength, by us, the people of India, is a true tribute to Baba Saheb Doctor Bhim Rao Ambedkar,on his birth anniversary. Baba Saheb’s life inspires us to combat each challenge with determination and hard work. I bow before Baba Saheb on behalf of all of us. Frien...

India’s international response to the challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated her global leadership as a reliable first responder to humanitarian crises.  The Covid-19 outbreak was termed a “public health emergency of international concern” on 30 January 2020. According to the WHO, the virus originated in the city of Wuhan in China, from where it was transmitted by human travelers to several countries across the world, including India. On 26 February 2020, India supplied 15 tons of medical assistance comprising masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment on an Indian Air Force special flight as a gesture of solidarity in confronting Covid-19.  The Director General of the WHO declared the global Covid-19 outbreak as a "pandemic" on 12 March 2020. In a statement in Parliament the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar conveyed that India had taken pro-active action to bring back Indian citizens from the affected countries before restric...

India has also been afflicted with the coronavirus pandemic. Ever since the virus was detected in China in end 2019, India's scientific and medical community has been studying the virus carefully. It was in January 2020 that the first case of coronavirus in India was reported from Kerala. However, the infected person was a foreign returnee. Since then India has put in place certain protocols that are being replicated in many foreign countries. As the coronavirus spread has indicated, the developed world has till now faced the brunt of the pandemic. For poor countries, the virus is even more challenging. India being a developing nation, decided to formulate its own policy to fight the virus. Since early March 2020, India decided to evacuate its stranded citizens from foreign countries. After these citizens landed in India, they were quarantined for 14 days before being allowed to go home. The country on the appeal of the Prime Minister observed a day long curfew and showed thei...

My dear fellow citizens, Today marks9 days of the nationwide lockdown against the Corona pandemic. The discipline and spirit of service you have displayed during this periodis unprecedented, and embodies the true meaning of both. Government, administration and the public at large, have together made great efforts to manage the situation as best as possible.The manner in which you had expressed gratitude to all those fighting against the Coronavirus on Sunday 22nd March, has today become an example for all countries. Many are replicating it now. Whether it is people’s curfew, ringing bells, clapping hands or clanging plates;they have all made the nation realize its collective strength in these testing times. It has led to the deepening of thebelief that the nation can unite as one in thebattle against Corona. This collective spirit of yours, of the nation, can be seen manifesting itself during these times of lockdown. Friends, today, when crores of people of this country are confined t...